The Plot:Richard doesn’t suspect anything shady when his cousin, Malley, doesn’t show up to walk the beach with him. She’s always been annoyingly unreliable and frequently tries to get away with things her parents would never let her do. Besides, if Malley was around, Richard probably would never have stumbled upon Skink, a wild, environmental vigilante (& former governor of Florida) who lays in wait for turtle nest disrupters and casual litterers. Richard is immediately taken in by Skink’s definitive, uncompromising drive to stand up for his beliefs, regardless of whether his actions are safe or legal. And their meeting could not have come at a better time. After three days of hearing nothing, it becomes clear that Malley’s fabricated story about leaving early for boarding school is a cover for her plan to meet her new Internet boyfriend, who has kidnapped her. Richard is going to need some serious help from someone who doesn’t mind occasionally breaking the rules if he’s going to find Malley. Fortunately, Skink is the perfect man for the job.

Why It's Worth Reading:This book is the perfect combination of action/adventure story and realistic, cautionary tale. The issues with Malley and Richard’s feeling about them are serious and scary, but the inclusion of Skink’s character allows the reader to feel that Richard is on a quest, a grand rescue mission. Skink is a constant source of humorous and outlandish choices, and Hiaasen’s ability to engage a reader’s senses is as good as ever. I am a fan of Hiaasen’s other works (Hoot(2002), Scat(2009)) and was excited to see him branching into the YA world here. If you liked Tangerine or books by Chris Crutcher, give Skink, No Surrender a try!Book Details:ISBN:978-0-307-97406-8Format: eBookPublisher: Alfred A. KnopfPublication Date: September 23, 2014Source: NetGalleyDo We Own a Copy?: You know it!